Factors Affecting Tourism Development

1.1.5. Tourism products

Define

Tourism products are a set of services needed to satisfy the needs of tourists during a trip.

Tourism products = Tourism resources + Tourism goods and services.[14]

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In short, it can be generally understood that tourism products include tourism services, goods and amenities for tourists, which are created by natural and human factors on the basis of technical facilities and tourism labor in a certain region or facility.

Structure of tourism products:

The content and structure of tourism products are very rich and diverse, related to many industries and can be divided into the following main components:

 Components that create attraction (attraction for tourists): include tourist attractions and tourist routes to satisfy tourists' needs for sightseeing and enjoyment. These are beautiful and famous natural landscapes, wonders, world cultural heritages, historical relics with strong cultural characteristics of the country, regions, etc. [14]

 Tourism facilities (physical conditions for tourism development): include a network of accommodation facilities such as hotels, tourist villages to serve the accommodation needs of tourists, food and beverage shops, technical facilities for tourists' entertainment, and a system of means of transport to serve tourists' travel[14].

 Tourism services: this is considered the core of tourism products, the implementation of tourists' tourism spending needs is inseparable from the types of services provided by tourism businesses. Tourism products that tourism businesses provide to tourists, in addition to some tangible material products such as food and drink, are mostly expressed in types of services. Tourism services are a complete process, a reasonable combination of individual services, so it is necessary to create a harmonious and synchronous coordination in the whole to create a good evaluation of tourists about the complete tourism product[14].

Characteristics of tourism products:

Aggregate Non-reserve

Immutability

Volatile (easily changed)

Seasonality

1.1.6. Functions of tourism

1.1.6.1. Social functions

Social function is reflected in the role of tourism in creating many jobs, helping to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty. Because tourism is an industry that attracts a large number of workers. According to UNWTO statistics, direct and indirect labor serving tourism currently accounts for more than 10.7% of the total labor force worldwide. In Vietnam, every year, the tourism industry creates an additional 15,000 - 20,000 direct jobs in hotels, restaurants and tourism service establishments. With the development of tourism, people have many opportunities to receive vocational training and enjoy good technical infrastructure.

Tourism also contributes to satisfying spiritual needs, improving the quality of life, restoring health, and reproducing human labor capacity. Biological research confirms that, thanks to a reasonable rest and travel regime, the current population's diseases have decreased by an average of 30% compared to the previous period, respiratory diseases have decreased by 40%, neurological diseases have decreased by 30%, and digestive diseases have decreased by 20% [15].

1.1.6.2. Economic functions

Tourism has become a key economic sector of many countries in the world, playing an important role in increasing the economic growth rate of countries. Income generated in the tourism industry is "double income", when developing a service facility, it will lead to the development of a series of other economic activities. According to "The Economics of leisure and tourism" (John Tribe): every USD spent by tourists will generate about 2 - 3 USD of increased income. Tourism is also an industry that contributes significantly to the country's revenue through tax obligations. This is also an on-site export industry with many outstanding advantages, contributing significantly to foreign currency earnings and balancing the international balance of payments[8].

Tourism is a comprehensive economic sector, tourism development helps diversify and stimulate the development of other economic sectors: transportation, agriculture, industry, trade... In addition, it also strengthens infrastructure and technical facilities for the community, creates jobs, and improves people's lives.

1.1.6.3. Ecological function

Expressed in creating an ecologically stable living environment. Recreational tourism is a factor that stimulates the protection and restoration of the surrounding natural environment. Visiting scenic spots and natural environments is meaningful to tourists. Creating conditions for tourists to understand nature and form habits of environmental protection.

Tourism and environment are closely related, tourism contributes to protecting the ecological environment, creating conditions for tourism development.

1.1.6.4. Political function

The political function of tourism is reflected in its role as a factor in strengthening peace, promoting international exchange, and expanding understanding between nations. International tourism makes people living in different parts of the world understand and come closer to each other, creating friendship between nations.

1.1.7. Factors affecting tourism development

1.1.7.1. Geographical location

In the process of tourism development, geographical location is considered an important resource. Geographical location includes natural geographical location (limited territory and geographical coordinates), economic - social and political location. At the same time, geographical location has significance in terms of transportation and exchange.

For tourism activities, the decisive factor of location conditions is that the tourist destination is located in a tourist development area and the distance from the tourist destination to the tourist sending sources is short. When analyzing and evaluating geographical location, it is necessary to put it in the regional, national, regional and international context.

1.1.7.2. Tourism resources

Tourism is an industry with a clear orientation towards resources. Tourism resources directly affect the organization of the territory, the formation of specialization and the economic efficiency of tourism activities.

In tourism activities, tourism resources are the most important factor. Tourism resources can be understood as natural landscapes, historical and cultural relics, human values, and creative human labor works that can be used to satisfy tourism needs, and are the basic factors to form tourist spots and tourist areas to create tourist attractions.

Tourism resources are very rich and diverse, so there are many ways to classify them depending on the use of different criteria.

Natural tourism resources

Natural tourism resources are objects and phenomena in the natural environment surrounding us. The natural environment has great significance for the development of recreation and is exploited to serve tourism.

The natural components that have the strongest impact on tourism are terrain, climate, water resources and biological resources.

* Terrain

Terrain is an important component of nature, a product of long-term geological processes. For tourism activities, the terrain surface is where tourist activities take place, where tourist facilities are built (accommodation facilities, entertainment areas, infrastructure, etc.). Terrain characteristics contribute to determining types of tourism. The most important factor is the terrain morphology and special terrain types, combined with natural relics that attract tourists. At the same time, terrain combined with other natural factors such as climate and favorable weather create conditions for tourism activities to develop.

The main morphological units of the terrain are mountains and plains. Tourists usually prefer places with beautiful and varied landscapes, mountainous areas and they usually avoid monotonous and boring places.

Among the types of terrain, mountainous areas have the greatest significance for tourist areas, especially areas that are favorable for organizing winter sports, nursing homes, rest stops, tourist facilities... In mountainous tourism resources, together with terrain, climate and flora and fauna, they create a comprehensive tourism resource capable of organizing short-term and long-term tourism.

In addition to the main terrain types, special terrain types are of great value for tourism organization such as Karst terrain type and coastal terrain type.

Karst terrain: is a type of terrain formed by the circulation of water in easily soluble rocks. One of the most interesting Karst types for tourism is Karst caves. The natural and cultural landscapes of Karst caves are very attractive to tourists. This is a tourism resource, a special commodity that can be easily profitable. In addition to Karst caves, flooded Karst terrains are also of great value for tourism.

Coastal terrain types: have important significance for tourism. Coastal terrain can be exploited for tourism with different purposes: sightseeing, scientific tourism, relaxation, swimming, water sports.

* Climate

Climate is an important component of the natural environment for tourism, including two main indicators: air temperature and air humidity. In addition, there are a number of other factors such as wind, rainfall, physical and chemical composition of the air, atmospheric pressure, sunlight and special weather phenomena.

To specifically assess the climatic conditions for tourism activities, in addition to the general characteristics of each area, it is necessary to assess the impact of these conditions on human health and tourist terrain. Places with moderate climate are often preferred by tourists. Each type of tourism requires different conditions. To determine the level of climate adaptation to humans, researchers often use bioclimatic indicators.

Climatic conditions have an impact on the implementation of tourism tours or tourism service activities. However, special weather phenomena that hinder tourism plans also need to be noted, such as storms, northeast monsoons, floods during the rainy season... The seasonality of tourism is mainly affected by climatic factors. Accordingly, tourism activities can take place all year round or in a few months (tourist season all year round, winter, summer).

* Water source

Water resources include surface water and groundwater. For tourism, surface water resources are very important, including oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, artificial reservoirs, streams, Karst, waterfalls, fountains... Depending on the physical and chemical composition, they can be divided into fresh water and salt water.

For tourism purposes, water is used according to individual needs, age and national needs. The minimum acceptable temperature limit for surface water is 18 - 20 �C, in addition, attention should be paid to some other indicators such as frequency and wave characteristics of the flow, water cleanliness. Surface water sources not only provide for the living needs of the tourist area but also affect other components of the living environment, regulate the climate favorable for tourism activities (calm the coastal climate...).

In water resources, mineral water resources are very important for tourism. This is a valuable tourism resource for health and wellness tourism. Mineral water is water

Nature contains some special material components or has some physical properties that have physiological effects on humans.

Mineral water is divided into the following types:

- Carbonic mineral water group: is a precious mineral water group that has very good thirst-quenching effects and cures some diseases such as high blood pressure, mild atherosclerosis, and diseases of the peripheral nervous system.

- Silic mineral water group: effective for digestive, neurological, joint, gynecological diseases...

- Bromine - Iodine - Boron mineral water group: has the effect of curing skin, neurological, gynecological diseases...

There are also many other groups of mineral water with different medical tourism meanings.

* Biology

Biological resources are a special type of resource that greatly affects the development of the tourism industry, creating beautiful and attractive natural landscapes to meet the needs of sightseeing, relaxation, exploration and raising awareness for tourists. The current trend is emerging new forms such as eco-tourism areas, tourism areas of nature reserves for the objects of animals and plants. Visiting and traveling in the world of living creatures, in harmony with nature, makes people love life more.

To serve different tourism purposes (sightseeing, hunting, sports, scientific research...), flora and fauna resources must meet certain criteria.

Natural and artificial forests play a very important role in regulating the climate, creating a clean environment for tourism. Protective forests, riverside flora, lakes in the plains and valleys are valuable for weekend tourism. For tourists, plants that do not exist in their country often have a strong attraction.

The extremely rich animal world also has great significance for cognitive tourism and hunting tourism.

* World Natural Heritage

According to the World Heritage Convention, “Natural heritage is a natural heritage consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of formations having historical or cultural value.”

“natural sites or clearly demarcated natural areas of universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, by reason of their geological and geomorphological formations, which are home to endangered species of plants and animals and are of universal value from the point of view of science or conservation”. [39]

Each natural site that wishes to be recognized as a world natural heritage must meet one of the criteria of the World Natural Heritage Committee. The criteria for a world natural heritage may be that it represents a stage, process of Earth's evolution or ecological changes, or include natural habitats of endangered species. Natural heritage may be an exceptionally beautiful scene, a spectacular landscape or a reserve that protects a large number of wild animals...

A natural heritage submitted to the List of World Heritage shall be considered to be of outstanding universal value in accordance with the principles and purposes of the World Heritage Convention.

Human tourism resources

Human tourism resources are briefly understood as objects and phenomena created by humans throughout their existence, having cultural and spiritual values and serving tourism needs. Human tourism resources have different characteristics compared to natural tourism resources.

According to the Vietnam Tourism Law, “Human tourism resources include cultural traditions, cultural elements, folk arts, historical, revolutionary, archaeological, architectural relics, creative human labor works and other tangible and intangible cultural heritages that can be used for tourism purposes”. [6]

Human tourism resources have more cognitive value. The study of man-made objects often takes place in a short time. People interested in this type often have higher culture, higher income and higher requirements. This type of resource is often concentrated in residential areas such as large cities, with the advantage of being almost non-seasonal, less dependent on resources, depending on individual preferences.

Types of human tourism resources

* World cultural heritage

World cultural heritage is one of the most important human resources, considered a resource for developing and expanding tourism activities.

There are specific criteria for assessing world cultural heritage. In general, heritages

World culture is the highest crystallization of a nation's cultural creations. A country that has a relic recognized as a world cultural heritage will be a great honor for that nation, a valuable resource, attracting tourists, especially international tourists.

* Historical and cultural relics

Historical and cultural relics are specific, objective physical spaces that contain typical historical values, created by collectives or individuals in history. Historical and cultural relics and scenic spots are divided into:

- Archaeological cultural relics: are places that hide a part of cultural values, belonging to a period of human social history without writing and a certain time in ancient history. Most of these relics are located underground, also known as archaeological sites including residential sites and burial sites.

- Historical relics: historical characteristics of each country and nation are recorded in historical relics, including:

+ Monuments marking ethnology

+ Monuments marking important political events

+ Monument marking the victory against invaders

+ Monuments mark memories

+ Monument marking the glory of labor

+ Monuments marking the crimes of imperialism and feudalism

- Cultural and artistic relics: are relics associated with valuable architectural works, so they are also called architectural and artistic relics. They not only contain architectural values but also contain social and cultural values, and spiritual culture.

- Scenic spots: are cultural values bestowed by nature. Scenic spots not only have immense, majestic, and airy natural beauty but also have human values created by human hands and minds and contain the values of many types of historical and cultural relics. They are important to tourism activities. In our country, most scenic spots have Buddhist temples.

* Festival

Festivals are a diverse and rich form of cultural activities, a type of collective activity of the people after a period of hard work, or an occasion for people to look forward to an important historical event, or to resolve worries, desires, and dreams that real life has not yet resolved.

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